I bought 4 Dell Computers. I have had some good, some bad and some average experiences with the hardware and customer service.  Overall I have to give Dell a grade of C and that isn't enough for me to buy from them again.  My greatest problem with them is the price of their stock of which I own shares and am losing money.  Right now I do not know from whom to purchase my next computer.  From what I understand through research, no one is making an excellent out of the box machine.  I guess my best bet is to get one custom built locally by someone I can depend on for prompt service if needed.

I would never buy another dell for these stated reasons over price with a lot of cheap.hardware.

There customer service  is not the best either off shore help.

go to tiger direct.com or Microcenter.com and build your own budget PC with quality parts - those guys will help you build it too so easy even a 5th grade can do it.

I will always recommend dell tell me what other company that you can buy a computer from and some part go out and you can have the replacement part overnighted to you for minimum down time.  All other computer companys want you to send your computer in and then they end up keeping it for 2 to 4 weeks so you are without a computer for 2 to 4 weeks.  Customer support very easy to deal with if you know what you are doing.

I recently purchased a Dell laptop on line. I later received an e-mail stating that I was entitled to a $100 discount on any product I would later purchase from Dell.The coupon I received had an expiration date on it.When I tried to purchase software using the coupon,I was told it had expired,but the date on the coupon had 30 days to go. I called Dell's customer help line about this.After talking to at least 6 different people (only 1 of who I could understand) I was told I would get a discount,but not the full amount I was promised.This is the last time I will do any business with Dell!!!

Here are two good tips if you are considering a Dell.  I've worked with them for around a decade and always get them for friends and family without regret.

1. Always buy a business machine (Latitude Laptops or OptiPlex desktops) they aren't really any more expensive, less preloaded software, and are more solid than there consumer products (Inspiron and Dimension)

2. Opt for the Gold Support.  Gold support should be renamed American Technical Support.  You get to talk to someone you can understand AND these ppl are SHARP.  They cut right to the heart of the matter and don't dance around making you do unnecessary things.

And remember when you are buying any PC, a Cheap PC = Crap, you get what you pay for.  And always be nice to your Network Admin  :-)

nope never bothered to stop at one of those. walked by one many a time though. PCs are just too boring to try and use as a tourist attraction, sorry Vista. maybe one day

In the past three years, I have purchased a Dell XPS 410, a laptop for my daughter, and two other Dell desktops in the past. Dell was a good company but changed drastically when they thought about the stockholder more than the customer. Most Dell laptops are made by Compal and other companies. Dell is the middle man who offers service that is way over priced. I will not buy a Dell anymore because they are no longer competitive with H.P. If you think a Dell laptop is better made than an H.P. or a Sony or Toshiba, think again.

Simple reason not to buy Dell, the insult they offer North American Service for extra cost. Are you kidding?

I have enjoyed dining at Del Taco amost my whole life.it will be sad to see so many stores close.

"Dude... your getting a Dell." I have an E- Machine and all I have to say is... it works. HA!